Battle for top spot

I think everybody knows that we have to run because we’re the smallest team. If we don’t run, what will happen to us

RHENZ Abando tries to lead University of Santo Tomas to a 2-0 start. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG

University of Santo Tomas (UST) and University of the Philippines (UP) dispute for the early lead as they clash in the main game of Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Both the Growling Tigers and the Fighting Maroons are coming off opening-game wins and the survivor in their 4 p.m. encounter takes the top spot.

In the first game, Adamson University tries to bounce back from an ugly loss to defending champion Ateneo de Manila University as it battles the debuting National University (NU) at 2 p.m.

UST trounced University of the East, 95-82, while UP edged Far Eastern University, 61-55, to start their respective campaigns on a high note.

“UST, according to coach Aldin (Ayo) is small, but that’s quite misleading because they play bigger than bigger things,” Fighting Maroons head coach Bo Perasol said.

“We just have to get back to the drawing board and find a way on how we’ll deal with this kind of aggressive,” he added.

The Growling Tigers banked on new recruits Rhenz Abando and Soulmane Chabi Yo in registering their first win against the Bong Tan-mentored Red Warriors.

Abando, a recruit from Pangasinan, had a 22-point UAAP debut while Chabi Yo, a transferee from Colegio de San Lorenzo, finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for UST.

“I think everybody knows that we have to run because we’re the smallest team. If we don’t run, what will happen to us,” said Ayo, when asked how to beat UP, which boasts one of the deepest lineups this season.

Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Bright Akhuetie, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano and new addition Ricci Rivero carried the Fighting Maroons to their shaky win against the Tamaraws as Kobe Paras sat out the game due to a mild ankle sprain.

According to Perasol, Paras is game-time decision and “will be assessed daily to know his status.”

“As a team, we just have to do better, that’s it,” said Javi Gomez de Liano, who had a career-high 22 points against FEU.

Meanwhile, the Soaring Falcons try to bounce back from the opening-game loss as they battle the Bulldogs of head coach Jamike Jarin.

“We had a bad start but it’s just a minor bump along the way. We still have 13 more games to play,” Adamson mentor Franz Pumaren said.